Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Katy Roberts: Katy Roberts Quintet Live a L'Archipel
Katy Roberts: Katy Roberts Quintet Live a L'Archipel
Recorded live in Paris on July 2003 by sound engineer Alain Gandolfi, Live A l'Archipel consists of some well chosen standards ("Zoltan," "You Are Too Beautiful," "Lush Life," "Moontrune") and two Roberts compositions"Carol's Caprice" and "Oliver Missed The Spring," which Roberts wrote in memory of drummer Oliver Johnson. These compositions display Roberts' strong grounding in the styles of pianists such as McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and other innovative players.
Roberts displays advanced pianistic techniques and develops well-knit solos on "Moontrune" and "Zoltan," backed up by a creative tight rhythm section. Woodwind player Salim Washington and trumpeter Rasul Siddik develop typically energetic bebop solos on these tunes. The piano and saxophone duet on "You Are Too Beautiful" and "Lush Life" installs a warm ambience reinforced by Roberts' fine touch and musical sensitivity. Siddik plays the head to "Oliver Missed The Spring" on muted trumpet, punctuated by some sparse flute phrases which lead to a mournfully complete flute solo. The outcome is very charged emotionally.
The album closes with Lee Morgan's "Gigolo," on which the trumpet and sax weave very interesting countermelodies on the head, followed by a trumpet solo backed by Roberts' Tyner-esque harmonic and rhythmic comping. The drummer gives unity to the whole thing and supports the energy which emanates from the other musicians.
I have to say that Roberts' music gone through an obvious evolution since her earlier CD Katy Roberts Sextet recorded in May of 2002. The sound is fresh and overall, Live A l'Archipel is an innovative rendition of the tradition of bebop, hard bop, mainstream and some free jazz elements. I am waiting for more.
Visit Katy Roberts on the web.
Track Listing
Zoltan, Carol's Caprice, You Are Too Beautiful, Lush Life, Shade Of Jade, Moontrune, Oliver Missed The Spring, Horace T, Gigolo
Personnel
Katy Roberts: Piano; Salim Washington: Tenor Sax, Flute and Oboe; Rasul Siddik: Trumput, Flugelhorn; Brian Willson: Drums; Dominique Lemerle: Bass.
Album information
Title: Katy Roberts Quintet Live a L'Archipel | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Unknown label
< Previous
Drop Your Leotards!
Next >
Congressional Roll Call